It's Not Goodbye If I Don't Say it.

Ready to leave her small town, Spencer is packed and rearing to go, she just needs to say goodbye to her first love first. But can she?

Summer was always boring, full of nothing but disappointment and a small town full of boundaries, at least for Spencer Hastings. It was a time she dreaded most but not this year though, this year was the year she left her hometown of Willowville, Ontario behind. This was the year she left HIM behind.

Her bags had been packed for days, and her train ticket lay flat underneath the white pillow which laid on her bed in the corner of her room. She had lived with her Uncle Steffan for the past 10 years, when her mother passed on her twelfth birthday. It didn't bother her to much though, seeing as her father was never around, her Uncle Steffan had always looked after her like his own.

In her room, Spencer stared at the digital clock on top of her dresser , in only 13 hours, she would be gone. She smiled at the thought. In 13 hours, "City Girl" wouldn't be just a nickname her friends called her. She laid on her bed and hugged herself. She would be at LAX by Friday, everything was falling into place before Spencers eyes. Spencer rolled around on her bed, messing up the light blue cotton sheets, as she squealed.

"Spence! Rory's here!" boomed a voice from down the stairs. Spencer glanced at her bags beside her bed. Although she was physically prepared to leave, she wasn't nearly emotionally ready to say goodbye to anyone yet, especially not him. Why was he here? They didn't have a date, and because of their work schedules mudding only happened ever other Friday. Two days from now. Spencer jumped up, and ran down stairs quickly. Sure enough, he was there. His usual red plaid shirt, was replaced with a nice button up white blouse, with his usual ripped jeans. Spencer cocked an eyebrow but brushed it off. There were only so many days one man should wear plaid.

"Thank you Uncle Steffan, I won't be out late. Promise" explained Spencer quickly as she raced to grab her jacket from the hook hanging behind her uncle. She hugged him gently, coughing slightly as she inhaled his musky cologne, making Steffan chuckle. Without another word, Spencer ran out the door, past Rory and jumped right into the muddy pick-up truck parked in her driveway.

Her face was red, but she managed to keep a calm composure as Rory drove away, down the only road in town, and turned into the bush. Her hands shook as she clued into where they were headed. Sweat ran down Spencer's forehead, and her throat ran dry. He was headed for the only private place in Willowville. The last place Spencer wanted to be right now.

It was 9:30 when they finally reached their once safe haven. Spencer gulped, as her mind went wild with thoughts. She stared at the clock, just as she had the entire ride there. 12 hours left. Just 12 hours left to say goodbye.

Rory opened the truck door and walked around to let out his passenger. He walked with a spring in his step, but he hesitated at the door. Slowly, he composed himself again before finally opening the door.

"M'lady. May we continue on?" Rory inquired in a cheesy, fake British accent, smile playing on his lips. He outstretched his hand for Spencer to take and pulled her close. He never understood how lucky he was to have her, but he never took it for granted.

"Rory.." Spencer whispered quietly, "Why are we here? I thought we agreed that we wouldn't do any surprise visits here. I mean, what if your Dad followed us! You know damn well he hates me". Although it wasn't what she truly needed to say, it wasn't a false statement, Sheriff Manning had it out for Spencer, especially since his son had become smitten with her. 

Sherriff Manning took pride in arresting Spencer when he could, over stupid little things too, whether it be stealing a bite of somebodies food at the local diner while she was on shift, or stealing Rory's truck. It was always something, but Spencer didn't mind much. Sometimes she deserved it, after all she did have a heft record of violence and breaking and entering's. It didn't matter what she did though, Rory always let her out within an hour. In such a small town, the sheriff station was more for show and nothing ever went on your permanent record unless it was severe. After all, the population of Willowville was only 207.

"Rory.." Spencer tried to say something, anything.

"No, just listen, okay? We've been through this City Girl! My Father can't keep us apart and who cares if he did follow us? We're hanging out at an abandoned shack that means nothing to anyone but us! Which is why.." his voice trailed off, and quivered before getting down on his knee, "Which is why, this is the only spot I could ever imagine asking you to be my wife. It's been five of the best years of my life with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We have years ahead of us and I know that I want.. No I need to wake up to your face every morning. So please Spence.."

Hot tears filled Spencers eyes, and spilled out onto her face. Three months ago, she would have jumped into his arms, kissed him and put the sapphire ring onto her irng finger with pride. But it wasn't three months ago. It was 12 hours from when she will be leaving him behind, it was three months after she got accepted into UCLA. He was three months too late.

Before she could come up with the words to refuse, the ring had been slipped onto her finger and the 6'1 brunette cowboy in front of her was placing his hands on her hips, ready to spin her round. To her disappointment, Rory had misunderstood her tears, he thought it was their beginning when truly, it was their ending. This had to be goodbye, but it wasn't. In the morning she would be gone, but for this moment she had to stay.

Rory laid Spencer in the bed of his truck, as he sprawled himself out behind her. He was holding his future wife, oblivious to the fact that by the time he woke up in the morning, she would be long gone. Until then though, Spencer lay in the arms of the ghost of her past. Un-moving as he played with her dark brown hair.

It was merely twenty minutes before Rory had fallen asleep, and slowly but surely, Spencer did what she did best. Slipping the ring off her finger, she tucked it into his jeans pocket, kissed Rory goodbye and ran. Although she never looked back, she could still see the slumbering body in the back of her mind. Her heart was broken far worse than she had ever thought possible, but this is what she needed. This was her final escape.

Spencer ran through the town, and stopped outside the two story, country home just off the main street. Her breathing was short, but she ran into the house and up the stairs. In her room, she through her pillow at the wall, as her tears crept back up on her, causing a groan to be heard from the room next to hers. Spencer swore under her breath as she grabbed her ticket and bags, Spencer ran back out of the house.

It wasn't until she reached the train station, did she look at her watch and see the time. 1:37am. Spencer sighed and slumped onto a bench at the station. More tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she reached into her bag and grabbed out a medium sized leather book, along with a pen. Silently, Spencer wrote in her journal, while pausing to glance towards the road in fear Rory had awaken and come to find her. He didn't.

Spencer kept writing until she heard the sound of a train engine from the distance. She sighed aloud, she had always been one to lose track of time when writing in her journal but time meant nothing to her when she wrote. It was the only thing that made her feel closer to her mom.

The train whistle blew as it came to a stop in front of her. Without missing a beat Spencer jumped onto the train, and took her seat. The train was empty, and dusty, but she had expected as much. The train only went from Willowville, to Toronto with no stops between and few ever left Willowville, let alone came back. Spencer laid her head back on the maroon seat and inhaled sharply. The scent of mothballs filled her nose but it only made her smile. She was on her way to freedom.